On North Queen Street, a Christmas wonderland begins with beaded garlands and twinkling greens overhead in the foyer. In the dining room, a black tree adorned in silver and gold reaches the ceiling. Ornaments large and small dangle amid the beribboned swags draping the staircase. On the patio, lights gleam from the winter greenery.
The Belvedere Inn, a Lancaster mainstay year-round, truly dazzles for the holidays. Recently redecorated with modern touches gracing the Victorian splendor, the Belvedere remains a cherished tradition for special occasions and casual dining.
“The thing I like about the restaurant industry is that you’re here to serve, and people are coming in to celebrate, whether they’re celebrating someone’s life or celebrating a holiday or a birthday,” says owner Dean Oberholtzer. “It’s always fun.”
The Belvedere’s heritage is written in the tall windows with interior shutters, ornate woodwork, marble fireplace surround, and widow’s walk known as a belvedere. It’s even in the circa-1869 building’s original purpose as a home where Strasburg-based tobacco dealer John Rohrer entertained guests during city stays.
In the 1920s, the building became the private Harmony Club, followed by the Harmony Inn, a restaurant with lodging that served as a neighborhood pub until 1998. That was when Oberholtzer, then a veteran restaurant manager, teamed up with colleagues and the Harmony Inn owner before gradually acquiring ownership.
Today, the Belvedere exudes a fine dining-neighborhood vibe. While the Victorian ambience invites gasps, Oberholtzer’s frequent updates banish Old World fussiness. This spring’s redo welcomed modern tones. New chairs feature crocodile-look upholstery in black with cranberry piping. Geometric designs in black and white adorn the walls and entrance hall tiles.
In the dining room, the old leopard carpet gave way to an intricate cranberry-and-black design. In the first-floor bar, an underlit Corian top replaced copper, but the Art Deco back bar that probably dates to Harmony Club days remains.
“With the amount of new restaurants coming into Lancaster, it felt like it was time for the Belvedere to have a new, fresh, modern look,” Oberholtzer says. “We kept the aesthetic of the old Victorian, and even the antique bar. People love it.”
The menu reflects the atmosphere—eclectic American fusion featuring upscale comfort food. The Belvedere’s signature grilled Caesar salad has been on the menu since 1998. The four-hour braised short ribs are a customer favorite. Other entrees on the seasonally rotating menu from Chef Anthony Davis include the pretzel-crusted pork loin, pan-seared salmon, black truffle-infused wagyu burger, sweet potato gnocchi, and duo of wild game.
For dessert, the chocolate peanut butter bread pudding is perennially popular. All the tempting desserts, such as the pear and almond tart and vanilla bean crème brulèe, are made inhouse.
If you’re in the mood for a small plate, the Belvedere is still that neighborhood bar, open even during snowstorms. There’s always a bite to enjoy from the appetizer menu, whether it’s the signature Belvie bread or the Nashville hot chicken tacos.
Complement your meal with a wine from the comprehensive list or a cocktail designed by the staff, such as the Gilded Lily of Bluecoat gin, Cointreau, crème de violet, and splash of prosecco, garnished with a violet provided by local florist The Gilded Lily. For those who like a “liquid dessert,” the signature espresso martini features espresso from Lancaster County Coffee Roasters.
Since the pandemic, heated tents on the second-level patio have been constantly booked during cold weather, reserved even when temperatures drop to the single digits, and snow is swirling.
“We call them our little villas,” says Oberholtzer. “Staff really enjoy serving there because people are out there having such a great time.”
When it comes to staffing, the Belvedere has staying power. Some staff have been with the restaurant since the beginning, and others for 15 or more years. As Oberholtzer notes, they treat the place like their own.
“We don’t like to be stuffy,” he says. “The staff is very friendly and extremely outgoing. If you catch us on a good night, you’ll often hear our server/manager Lindsey Morgan singing to people, maybe ‘Happy Birthday’ or a show tune.”
Lancaster’s jazz scene is also represented in the popular second-floor bar known as Crazy Shirley’s Lounge. Every Friday and Saturday, local jazz duos and the occasional trio fill the speakeasy-style space with music.
New to Oberholtzer’s restaurant portfolio, along with sister restaurants Josephine’s and C’est La Vie, is 401 Prime, the former Amorette at 401 N Prince Street. Just a block away from the Belvedere, 401 Prime is a modern steakhouse, where Oberholtzer envisions patrons enjoying a full Lancaster experience by having drinks at one spot and dinner at the other.
Oberholtzer never stops searching for ways to keep up with Lancaster’s vibrant, supportive restaurant scene.
“You always have to stay on top of your game, and you always have to remember that the most important thing is that when people are coming in, they’re having a great time,” he says. “I want them to leave happy.”
The Belvedere Inn
402 N Queen St, Lancaster, PA 17603
